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Stuff You Tried To Love

I know we talk a lot about confirmation bias- we buy something and then convince ourselves we like it. Or something like that. But did you ever buy something you wanted to love and just couldn’t make it work? For me, Esoteric X-05 SACD/CD player. Bought from a local who was upgrading to the X-03. Big, beautiful piece of gear, but I couldn’t get used to the sound after 6 months of trying. Sold it to another local- I insisted he listen before he bought and I believe he sold it soon after as well. Totem Forest and Hawk. I loved the whole concept. Slim, easy to live with. Couldn’t get them to work in my room. The Model Ones were much better. I had a couple of other pieces, but this is long enough. BTW, these were bought used without audition.

chayro
stuartk
3,017 posts
 

@artemus_5

I know one must be a jazz or female vocals guy in order to have an affirmed audiophile card but those genres just don’t move me.

Don’t pay attention to anyone who tells you what you are or are not based upon their subjective tastes. We all have our biases. 

kennyc
1,624 posts
 

We all have our biases.

+1 not loving a component may simply be a subjective preference vs the quality of the component. While Magico and YG resonates with me, Wilson never did although I tried several times at multiple dealers and audio shows.

artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5
1,992 posts
 

@stuartk 

Thanks. I've never been one conform just to please others. Indeed others may not like what I like but it doesn't make them bad or inferior. Just different tastes.

mdalton's avatar
mdalton
501 posts
 

Phillips SACD 1000.  Back in 2001, it was all the rage.  Made the cover of Stereophile, lots of hyperbole.  It originally sold for $2k, but all of a sudden I saw prices at $400, so had to do it.  Well, turns out it suffered from a known flaw with the cd transport that Phillips couldn’t, or wouldn’t fix.  I mean, this was a gorgeous piece of gear: heavy, beautiful, minimalist.  But even before my transport gave out, I didn’t really hear it as the game-changer I was hoping for.  There were almost no SACDs around, and I had a pretty nice, modified Nakamichi changer.  I was able to get my money back, but it did involve a little conflict with the dealer.

rcm1203's avatar
rcm1203
102 posts
 

Never understood the concept of bashing someone else's preference in music. Personally, I have nothing against classical music, but I wouldn't listen to it even if I could use someone else's ears to do so. It's not good or bad, it's just not what I like. I also never audition my system for others because I didn't build it to please others. I built it to please me, and it does that admirably. 

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